Musicians' Portrait Project

Dave Young was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He began his musical training on guitar and violin at the age of 10. However, at his first professional gig, an accident of fate required him to pick up the bass. He has not put it down since. Dave holds degrees in Arts and Commerce from the University of Manitoba.

Dave moved to Toronto in the mid-sixties as an accountant with a large, multi-national consulting firm; he subsequently worked as a investment analyst. At the same time he was working as a jazz musician and pursuing intensive private classical study with Thomas Monahan, then principal bass with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Dave left the world of investment and finance for music in 1969.

Dave's first permanent position in classical music was as principal bass with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in 1970. He has subsequently worked with the Winnipeg Symphony, The Hamilton Philharmonic, The National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Dave regularly tours with clarinettist James Campbell and pianist Gene Di Novi in a programme of "Classical Fusion." He also participates as both classical and jazz musician at the annual "Festival of the Sound" in Perry Sound, Ontario, where he has been an integral part of that eclectic two-week musical event for more than 10 years.

One of Dave's earliest and most important jazz collaborations was as a member of guitarist Lenny Breau's quartet, from 1961-1966. Since those early days in jazz, Dave has worked with virtually every major jazz artist: Clark Terry, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Zoot Simms, Joe Williams, Oliver Jones, Kenny Burrell, Cedar Walton, Hank Jones, Nat Adderly, Peter Appleyard, Gary Burton, Barney Kessell, Ed Bickert, Ranee Lee, Marcus Belgrave, Don Thompson, and James Moody. Dave also enjoyed a 25-year musical relationship with the late, legendary Canadian jazz pianist, Oscar Peterson.